Dedicated to the musical endeavors I appreciate, with a particular obsession for black metal and Texas extreme metal
160 posts
Hocico
Hocico
Bienvenido a La Maldad
Speaking of electronic music, Mexican industrial masters Hocico have one of my all time favorite music videos.
It's a superb blend of Hellraiser and Aztec imagery that does an exceptional job evoking the theme of the song. It's the lion barely kept caged at the circus, waiting to strike. Primal rage underlying a pretense of control. It's aggressive, fast-paced, and spirited, while playing sensual and appealing. Leather and feathers, chains and war paint.
I'd love to see these guys live sometime, but it really feels like lately they have an easier time going across the Atlantic to Germany than across the border into Texas. Alas, someday.
More Posts from Auralatrocityabyss
Hey, my blog's a year old!
They grow up so fast....
-Black Vice- Austin, Texas based black metal.
Photo by blogger. 2017
Finnish band Grave Pleasures bring the classic deathrock sound to the modern day. The Funeral Party 7in is from 2016, and its so much fun to listen to. Macabre echoes of the 80s, these 2 songs are simultaneously rocking and somber, and I've been listening to them a lot this past month.
My favorite is the first track, Deadenders, which maintains a dark yet upbeat tempo and overall sounds exactly like the 7in title: a funeral party. Wailing vocals elicit apocalyptic imagery while blending exceptionally with the guitar melody to pull you along for the ride. The second track, Cold War Funeral, is a slower dirge, the rainy morning after the party in the cemetery. I strongly recommend checking them out if you are a fan of the genre, or just dark music in general.
Also, if you're familiar with the band Beastmilk, this is the project that rose from those ashes.
"Extermination Front"
Black Jackal
The next single from my favorite Texas band has been released. Half as long as the first single (Hunter-Killer), this is a ripping piece of blackened thrash that is all forward momentum. It evokes classic thrash with the guitar tone, a frantic wild ride with sharp edges. And the guitar solo in the middle is pure old-school heavy metal glory: violent, fast, wailing. To my knowledge there's no established release date yet, but the new album will be titled "Forever War".
You can pick up the single on the band's Bandcamp page, as well as the rest of their material.
Rotting Christ
The Heretics
Greek black metallers Rotting Christ released their newest album earlier this year. Interestingly, perhaps due to their Best Of album from last year, I feel The Heretics harkens back to the melodies of some of their bigger hits. This album is fire and brimstone but with an anthemic bent, and it maintains the atmospheric approach they've taken with their latest releases.
One of my favorite elements of this album is the vocal work. Sakis Tolis continues his grandiose growling screeches we've come to expect, but also capitalizes on some fantastic guest vocalists. Dayal Patterson's spoken narrations are moody and evocative, and a lovely inclusion. Irina Zybina's vocals on the second track recall Russian blackened folk metal band Arkona, and make the track one of my favorites.
The melodies and rythym recall some of my favorite songs such as In-Yumen -Xilbalba, careful whispers dancing around chants, tribal drumming, and atmospheric riffs. Songs like "Heaven and Hell and Fire" and "Fire, God, and Fear" take their titles literally, auditory infernos blistering your ears with an intense roar. The album also maintains that magical, spiritual element I love about their music, invoking beings of the abyss with utter gusto.
Overall, this is a solid album, and I thoroughly enjoy it. You can pick it up from Season of Mist, Bandcamp, Amazon, etc.
Germany's In Strict Confidence happen to be one of my favorite Dark Electro/ Synth- Pop bands, and I really love the Utopia album.
I've been listening to this one a lot while writing my Thesis, as it tends to have a calming effect on me. It's beautiful, ethereal, upbeat, and even a touch angsty. The dual vocals are always on point, and mix seamlessly. It has a softer approach than genres like industrial, but elicits a great deal of emotion instead.
As it seems rather hard to find the whole thing on Youtube, I'll leave you with some of the music videos from it. However, I do strongly suggest checking out the full album sometime, especially if you like darker electronic music.